Condition Description

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) has a highly variable presentation and age of onset. It is characterized by dilation and dissections of the ascending thoracic aorta and/or ascending aorta. An aneurysm involving the descending thoracic aorta is observed rarely. Without surgical repair of the ascending aorta, individuals with TAAD have continual enlargement of the ascending aorta that leads to an acute aortic dissection. Isolated TAAD is typically inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with variable expression and reduced penetrance. Only about 20% of familial non-syndromic TAAD is attributed to pathogenic variants in known genes.

TAAD can also be present as part of a genetic syndrome. Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome vascular type, multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome, and congenital contracturalarachnodactyly all have TAAD as part of their clinical spectrum.

Indications

Confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD).

Confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.

Methodology

Deletion/Duplication Analysis: DNA isolated from peripheral blood is hybridized to a gene-targeted CGH array to detect deletions and duplications. The targeted CGH array has overlapping probes that cover the entire genomic region.

Please note that a "backbone" of probes across the entire genome are included on the array for analytical and quality control purposes. Rarely, off-target copy number variants causative of disease may be identified that may or may not be related to the patient's phenotype. Only known pathogenic off-target copy number variants will be reported. Off-target copy number variants of unknown clinical significance will not be reported.

Detection

Deletion/Duplication Analysis: Detection is limited to duplications and deletions. The CGH array will not detect point or intronic mutations. Results of molecular analysis must be interpreted in the context of the patient's clinical and/or biochemical phenotype.